Pear Salad with Vanilla Fig Dressing (2024)

This Pear Salad with Vanilla Fig Dressing, Gorgonzola Cheese and Pecans is a delicious celebration of fall and the perfect side for festive gatherings, special dinners or the holiday table! Video Included.

You are looking at one of my favorite fall salads! This Pear Salad Recipe is bursting with flavor! Juicy ripe pears, spicy nutty arugula, spiced maple-glazed seeds and pecans, pomegranate seeds, dried currants and gorgonzola cheese are all tossed in a flavorful Vanilla Fig Dressing to create the most delicious balance of flavors.

This time of year pears are such a refreshing treat. We especially love them in salads and this Pear Salad is one of our fall favorites- it’s flavorful, colorful, and elegant and the Vanilla Fig Dressing is sublime.

Wait until your pears are perfectly juicy and ripe and if you can get locally grown pears, even better!

Pear Salad Recipe | 60-Sec Video

Why this pear salad works:

• The flavors and textures of this salad are so complimentary! Sweet juicy pears paired with peppery arugula,creamy gorgonzola, maple glazed spiced nuts, bright pomegranate seeds, and Vanilla Fig Dressing. So very perfect!
• This salad can be made ahead! Assemble it ahead, refrigerate, then add the dressing and toss it right before serving.
• It’s beautiful!Perfect for fall gatherings.

Pear Salad Ingredients

• Pears– perfectly ripe, red pears offer the best color here, but any flavorful ripe pear will work.
• Arugula– we really love its peppery bite, but feel free to sub spinach or half spinach.
• Spiced Nuts-pumpkin seeds and pecans are glazed with maple and spices
• Pomegranate Seeds– add a bright tanginess and pop of color and flavor
• Red onion
• Gorgonzola Cheese
• Dried Currants – or sub dried cranberries, or cherries
• Vanilla Fig Dressing

How to make the Pear Salad

Step one

Toss nuts and seeds with maple syrup, spices and salt and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes. Let cool.

Step two

Make the Vanilla Fig Dressing, by whisking ingredients together in a bowl.

Step three

Gather remaining ingredients for the salad, and slice the pears.

Step four

Then begin assembling the salad and toss with the Vanilla Fig dressing- just enough to lightly coat.

Feel free to top the salad with more spiced nuts, gorgonzola crumbles and pomegranate seeds.

More recipes you may like:

• Beet, Lentil and Spinach Salad with Pomegranate Dressing
• Waldorf Salad
• Toasted Farro with Pear, Hazelnuts and Arugula
• Pear Treeco*cktail
• Vanilla Fig Dressing

Hope you are enjoying this beautiful fall season.

Cheers 🥂

Sylvia

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